5 reasons Samaje Perine can win 2016 Heisman Trophy
By John Buhler
5. Twice a 1,000-yard rusher
Perine had come to Norman in 2014 and has twice been a 1,000-yard rusher for the Sooners. As a freshman in 2014, Perine rushed for 1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns on 263 carries. As a sophomore in 2015, Perine ran for 1,349 yards and 16 touchdowns on 226 carries.
Keep in mind that since the Big 12 currently does not have a conference championship game, Perine didn’t have the luxury to increase his rushing totals with the additional conference title game. He still in 13 games both years was able to achieve well over 1,000 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns while averaging over 6.0 yards per carry.
Perine will enter 2016 as a certain 1,000-yard rusher and will do so this time as an upperclassman for the Sooners. He’s proven to be the bell-cow back for Oklahoma the last two years and 2016 should be no different.
While rushing for 2,000 yards seems like an improbable task for Perine in 2016, he still will be able to account for much of the production in an elite Oklahoma offense in 2016. If he can factor more than just 15 catches out of the backfield as a receiver, this could lead to a season where Perine has well over 2,000 all-purpose yards. If he can get around that offensive total in 2016, he’ll be in the conversation for the Doak Walker Award and the Heisman Trophy for sure.
Next: 4. Lincoln Riley.